Rickey and thickey

I have never had a lime rickey so I can't tell you how successful Hopfully has been in creating one in beer form with Legswap. From Google Images, however, I can see that they're not usually pink and frothy, which this most definitely is. It is zesty and refreshing, though, and I'm sure that's a big part of the effect. The inclusion of raspberries of course makes it taste of raspberry, but that doesn't dominate the other subtleties. The lime here imparts its flavour well, being more than just the bitterness but not tasting like a sticky cordial. The tartness is dialled back and I would suggest it's more crisp than tart, aided by a cleansing fizz. 5% ABV is a little strong for something this easy going so be careful. It's highly enjoyable, though, and well ahead of most sour fruit beers.

Shortly after that landed it was followed by a mango IPA called Kneesocks. This one looks exactly like a smoothie, being a dense eggy yellow with even a yellowish tint to the loose bubbles on top. The aroma is properly beery, though: tropical fruit that's all about hops and not puree. It's 7% ABV so quite heavy, but again that's just because it's a strong beer, not because it has been bulked out artificially. At the core of the flavour is an assertive bitterness in the classic American fashion -- grapefruit and lemon rind. Idaho 7 and Azacca are the hops, and it's the latter's fruity fun that wraps around the bitterness and I think has melded with the mango, integrating it fully into the flavour. Novelty-seekers won't get much of a kick from it but if your requirements are nothing other than a well-made full-flavoured IPA in a broadly New England style then this fits the bill.

Two quality offerings from Hopfully here. The move to brewing at Metalman seems to be working out well for them.